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Disclaimer: I do not own Batman nor do I own Lord of the Rings. They are the sole property of DC Comics and JRR Tolkien.
Author's Note: Yeah, I know… I promised faster updates, but this chapter has been taking longer than I had thought. I've gone through three different drafts of this chapter, until I wrote the one that properly worked for me. The ending of this chapter for example was long in debate.
Chapter 23
Escape to Helms Deep
Silence hung in the Golden Hall of Rohan, with the only sounds heard being the torches crackling as they gave off a warm yet slightly eerie glow. All attention was on the two children that Gandalf and King Théoden had discovered shortly after Theodred’s funeral.
The children had so far given little information since they both felt so weak from the journey not to mention a bit shy about speaking to the King of Rohan. Rather than have the child undergo a debriefing with the King, Éowyn did her best to put the children at ease and at the same time learn their story.
The boy whose name was Eothain, explained most of the situation to the Shield-Maiden, while his sister Freda ate. Every now and again, the smaller child would add her own words to the story, which both Éowyn and Eothain would smile at her good-naturedly. At last Éowyn smiled in thanks to the children, before turning back to the assembly of adults. The smile vanished from her lips and in its place was a look of great concern.
Batgirl stood quietly in the deeper shadows besides Legolas, so as not to frighten the children. She wasn't wearing her mask at the moment, but some habits were hard to break. Aragorn and Gimli meanwhile sat at a nearby table, waiting patiently and smoking their pipes.
"They had no warning," Éowyn said, taking to her feet again. "They were unarmed. Now the Wild Men are moving through the Westfold, burning as they go. Rick, cot and tree."
Everyone's eyes turned expectantly to King Théoden, who rested his tired face into his right hand. He didn't say anything, but gave a soft inaudible sigh of great weariness. Gandalf, who sat to his left in the chair once occupied by Wormtongue, watched Théoden, with his eyebrows knitted together in thought.
"Where is Momma?" young Freda asked loudly, breaking the silence. Having no answer that she could give, Éowyn placed a warm blanket on the child's shoulders and tried her best to put her mind at ease.
"This is but a taste of the terror that Saruman will unleash," Gandalf said to Théoden. "All the more potent for he is driven now by fear of Sauron. Ride out and meet him head on. Draw him away from your women and children." Théoden eyed Gandalf for a moment, not looking at all convinced with the wizard's council. "You must fight."
"You have two-thousand good men riding north as we speak," Aragorn added. "Éomer is loyal to you. His men will return and fight for their king."
Théoden shot up from his throne, and began pacing. "They will be three-hundred leagues from here by now," he snapped. Despite his harsh sounding tone, Cassandra could see the King's pain, in the way that he held himself and the way he paced. "Éomer cannot help us."
Gandalf stood from his seat and looked ready to argue, but Théoden cut him off. "I know what it is you would want of me," he said, "but I will not bring further death to my people. I will not risk open war."
Batgirl rolled her eyes in annoyance. How could a man who had first hand experience of Saruman's evil, deny the chance to stop him when he could? Most likely, she'd have voiced her opinion, had Aragorn not beat her to it.
"Open war is upon you, whether you would risk it or not," he said in a calm and even tone. Théoden gazed at Aragorn with cold stare.
"When last I looked, Théoden, not Aragorn, was king of Rohan."
"Then what is the king's decision?" Gandalf asked. As Théoden turned to Gandalf, Legolas suddenly took notice that Batgirl had vanished yet again.
"Oh, nam nolwë a Valar… (Oh for the grace of the Valar…)"
Sitting up against the cold stonewall of the Golden Hall, she stared out over Edoras. The stars shown dimly in the night sky and cast the community in a soft ethereal light. The evening was so quiet. It was like all of Middle-Earth had lost all sound, and not even a lowly cricket could be heard. It was unnatural, and caused Cassandra to remember the saying 'the calm before the storm.'
And if what those children said was true, then it was going to be one hell of a storm.
"There ye are, Lass.” Cass allowed a smile to tug at her lips, as Gimli walked out from the Great Hall, and sat down besides her. In his left hand he held a bottle, which he took a swig from. Most likely it was ale, since that was the only beverage aside from water the dwarf seemed to drink. "We wondered where ye'd gotten off to."
"Sorry," Cass replied. "Got… bored. I wanted some…fresh air. Besides… Legolas watching me like… Bat."
"I thought the sayin' was 'watchin' like a hawk'," Gimli said thoughtfully while taking another drink from the bottle and then handing it to Cass.
"Not from where I come from," Cass joked, before taking a drink from the bottle.
'Yup, it was ale.'
Taking the bottle back from Cass, Gimli chuckled a bit. "Dinnae be too hard on the Elf, Cassie. He's just a wee bit worried about ye, is all lass. He means well."
Cassandra made no attempt to hide her eyes roll. "He’s stupid to worry. I can take care of myself."
"Aye, no one's denyin' that lass," Gimli said as he handed the bottle back to Cass. "Just sayin' that we've all been through a lot these past days is all. And ye cannae say that you haven't been a wee… err… angry, can ye?"
Taking the bottle from Gimli, Batgirl looked at it thoughtfully, before bringing it up to her lips. "No." she consented. She couldn't deny that she was angry. As well as hurt, tired, sad and a bit scared, the latter being the most difficult to admit to herself. Admitting that she was even the tiniest bit scared seemed like a major defeat in her mind.
"Lass… ye know that we-"
"What King-guy say?" Batgirl interrupted, before taking a long drink from the bottle. Gimli eyed her for a bit, before let out a deep sigh/growl.
"He says to evacuate everyone to Helm's Deep," Gimli grunted distastefully. "Its madness I tell ye. He might as well kill them all now and save Sauron the trouble later."
"King… scared," Batgirl said, pulling her knees up to her chest. "Son is dead. Nephew is gone. Saruman's been… controlling him for a long time. He thinks… he b-betrayed Edoras. He doesn't want… more people hurt. He thinks it's all his fault."
Again Gimli grunted in an unconvinced tone. "No excuse, if ye ask me," he said shortly. "More innocent people will die if we wait for the enemy to make their move."
Cassandra could understand the logic behind Gimli's word. Like him, she was a warrior and to a warrior, one doesn't wait for battle to come to them. They go looking for the battle.
"What does Aragorn and Gandalf say?"
"Aragorn doesn't like it either," Gimli said, drinking more ale. "But he sayin' the same thing as you. Says that Théoden is trying to avoid more death and pain."
"And Gandalf?"
Gimli didn't reply immediately. Instead he took a rather long and overly dramatic drink from his bottle. Cassandra could tell from the way that he was avoiding her eyes and the shift in his weight that the dwarf had been hoping to avoid that topic.
"What did Gandalf say, Gimli?" she asked again, more forcefully this time.
"He's leaving lassie. First thing in the morning."
"What…?" Batgirl muttered, aghast. Anger crept over her feature and she leapt to her feet and back towards the Golden Hall. She kicked the doors open causing one of them to break in the center and stormed in with Gimli, bottle in hand trailing behind. It looked as if the entire hall were vacated except for Gandalf the White, who stood in the very center of the hall looking to Cassandra expectantly.
"YOU'RE LEAVING?" she snarled, crossing to the center of the hall in record time.
"Yes," Gandalf said in a voice so calm that it could only intensified Cassandra's already seething anger. "I have an errand that I must run of the up most importance."
"Why?" Cass demanded, stretching the single word out. "You don't think THIS is… important? Saruman's orcs are coming! People are going to die! We need you! But… you don't care, do you?"
"LOWER YOUR VOICE CASSANDRA CAIN!" Gandalf barked, his eyes pulsating with fury and power. Cassandra's mouth snapped shut like a steel trap, but her glare remained unwavering. The two stood rooted to their places glaring at each other.
"Cassandra…" Gandalf's face softened after a moment, and he placed both his hands on her shoulders. "Of course, I care," he said softly. "And it is because that I care that I must leave. Théoden thinks that he will be leading his people to safety, but the truth is that he will lead them to their destruction. I must go to find their salvation."
This did nothing but both confused and pissed off Batgirl further. Why did Gandalf always feel the need to be vague and evasive? It was like pulling teeth with the man. "What do you mean?"
Gandalf held out his hand and cupped Cassandra's cheek with it. Her initial reaction was to back away from his hand, but something in Gandalf's eyes stopped her from doing so. He seemed older all of a sudden and more fragile than she could ever recall him looking.
"I understand that you are angry, child. And I know that your hurt is deep, but I ask you to please trust me as you trusted me when our journey began. I promise that you will understand everything upon my return."
"Fine," Batgirl said, turning her eyes away. "Go. Just… go." Gandalf nodded somewhat sadly. “But… hurry back. Please.”
"I shall do my best," Gandalf replied. "Now if you will please excuse me, I think it best that I take my leave. For we all have long and difficult roads ahead of us." Inclining his head a bit, Gandalf turned and retrieved his staff from its resting place besides the King's throne. Casting a final look to Cassandra, he smiled softly and left.
Gimli had watched from the doorway of the Hall in silent fascination of his two friends. He knew better than to interrupt the Wizard and the Vigilante when they were both like this. Partly because he knew this was important to the both of them, and also because he feared for his own safety. After all, one was a powerful Wizard and the other was a deadly and furious woman. Both of which he learned long ago to avoid getting on the bad sides of.
Cassandra remained rooted to her spot with her shoulders drooping and staring at the floor pensively. Someone clearing their throat brought her back out of her thoughts. Gimli had walked over and was now offering her his bottle of ale.
"I think ye might be needing this, lass," he said with a small grin. Batgirl looked at the bottle and she shook her head with a slight pout.
"Not enough. We need more."
Gimli let out a bark of laughter as he examined the half-filled bottle for himself. "Aye," he grinned. "I'm thinkin' ye're right. What say we fix that problem?"
"Good idea."
Gandalf had left first thing in the morning just as he said he would. As always the newly minted White Wizard had been somewhat vague about his mission and the last thing he said to Aragorn and the others 'Look to my coming at first light on the fifth day. At dawn, look to the east.' And with that, he had sped off ridding atop of Shadowfax.
Batgirl had made her way to the gates of the city in time to see the White Wizard vanish over the horizon. Even a night of drinking with Gimli hadn't cured the Gotham Vigilante of her overwhelming worry and anger. Gandalf had been their ace in the hole, but now he was gone. What chances did they have left?
"My lady?"
Cassandra spun about to see Éowyn walking up from the stables. Her soft blonde hair wafted slightly in the morning air.
"Hi Éowyn.”
"Shouldn't you be preparing for the journey to Helms Deep?" the Shield-Maiden asked.
"Don't have much to take," Cassandra replied. "Traveling… light." She reached into one of the larger pockets of her utility belt and pulled out the leather bound book that Bilbo had given her before she left Rivendell. It was her most treasured possession aside from her Batgirl uniform.
Éowyn frowned slightly. "But what of weaponry?"
"This about it." Batgirl shrugged, patting her utility belt. She was running low on her bat-gadgets and such, but she didn’t really rely on them as much as most people. She was her own weapon.
"Also have… these." Batgirl pulled down her gloves revealing her mithril bracelets that Galadriel had given her as a gift in Lothlórien. The shield maiden gasps in wonder at the site of the perfect bracelets for she had never seen a piece of armor that looked so beautiful. Tentatively she touched the metal in awe.
“Wherever did you get them?”
“Gift from a friend.”
"And that is all that you have?" Éowyn asked. Cass nodded.
It didn't take the ability to read body language to see that this bit of information of didn't sit well with Éowyn. She didn't reply immediately, but took Batgirl's hand and led her back to the Golden Hall. Once there, Éowyn made towards a large trunk in the corner of the hall, and began rummaging though it. She removed a scrap of cloth and uncovered something that flickered in the filtered torchlight. Éowyn smiled secretively as she reached for the sheath, shifting the last of the cloth away as two long swords came into the light. She placed one of the two blades to the side, obviously her own. She then turned to Cassandra and held up the second one, just before drawing it from its scabbard. The blade was in very good condition with the exception of a few small nicks. With a smile, Éowyn held the hilt out for Cassandra to take.
"What is… this for?" Cassandra asked, grabbing the sword and looking at it in confusion.
"A gift. From a friend," the shield maiden replied. "No one should travel without the proper protection in these trouble times. It is the sword of a Rohan Shield-maiden, and I think it shall suit you well."
Cassandra looked at the blade for a moment, and shook her head. "Thank you, but I don't use… swords."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Don't use swords or guns," Batgirl stated. "Promised… Batman and… me… Never to take human life."
Éowyn studied her friend for a long moment. "You've taken a life before?"
Batgirl nodded, and Éowyn could see that it was an aspect of her past that she was not proud of.
Éowyn turned away from Cassandra and reached down picked up her own sword. In one swift movement, she had drawn her blade from its sheath and had swung it savagely at Batgirl's neck. Cassandra had easily seen this coming though, and without thought used the sword Éowyn had given her to parry the attack and with a wide swipe she disarmed the shield-maiden completely.
"What… were you thinking?" Cassandra demanded, though her face portrayed not sign of her being surprised by Éowyn’s actions.
"To prove a point," Éowyn replied flatly. "To use a sword does not mean you must kill with it. You could have killed me, but you didn't."
“You’re not a threat,” Batgirl shot back.
Éowyn walked past the Gotham Vigilante and picked up her own sword. "Maybe not. But the truth remains that you used the control and discipline to disarm me."
“Only because… I could read your… body. If not… I would have hurt you. Maybe kill you.”
"But you didn't."
"She is right," said a soothing yet masculine voice. Batgirl turned to Aragorn who stood in the deep shadows. "You can kill a man with your bare hands, Cassandra. A blade makes no difference."
"Yes it does," Cassandra growled. "I don't want to kill people. EVER again."
"And if that is your desire, then you shall not," Aragon replied, in that annoying yet at the same time charming, calm and patient tone of his. "The sword can be used in other means, aside from delivering death to one's enemy. And as the Lady Éowyn stated, you shall need armament, for we go into battle."
Batgirl looked down at the sword in her hand, as Aragorn walked by her. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gave the tiniest of smiles. "We all have faith in your skill, Cassandra. You must find that same faith in yourself. I know you will do what is right."
No reply came from Cassandra, and after a moment she felt Aragorn's hand leave her shoulder. She stood alone for a while, deep in thought before she finally attached the sword to her utility belt.
Yet not all had given into the fear. In order to pass the time, Gimli had taken it upon himself to teach Éowyn and Cassandra about the truths and myths of the Dwarf people.
"Its true you don't see many dwarf women," he explained in a very matter of fact tone, as he rode atop Éowyn's horse. "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they are often mistaken for dwarf men."
Cassandra, who was leading her own horse Nadia, couldn't help the bemused giggle that escaped from her as she exchanged a look with Éowyn. Together they both turned to Aragorn, mounted upon his own horse behind them for an explanation, which had become a reoccurring event since the beginning of Gimli's rather confused lecture on the Dwarfs.
Aragorn grinned wickedly as a rare twinkle entered the steadfast ranger's eye. He silently brought his hand up to his chin and mouthed: "It's the beard."
Both ladies turned back trying desperately to keep straight faces, and Cassandra had to bury her face in the horse's neck to keep from breaking out into a fit of giggles as Gimli continued.
"This, in turn, has given rise to the belief there are no Dwarf women," he stated turning to look at his audience who had schooled looks of the up most attentiveness. "And that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground!"
He gave a bark of laughter and Cassandra swapped a look with Éowyn since they both saw this as the perfect opportunity to let loose with their own laughter without offending Gimli. All three burst out laughing and Gimli, who obviously was delighted at their enjoyment of his tale, leaned back in his saddle and grinned widely
"Which is, of course, ridiculous…OY!" Gimli let out a yelped in his booming voice and his sudden movement had cause Éowyn’s horse to let out a neigh of shock and thus made a bolt for it. Éowyn lost her grasp on the reigns and the chocolate brown beast cantered through the thin crowd.
Gimli had explained to Cassandra long ago of how abysmal a Dwarf was on horses long before arriving at Rohan. Now the entire company found themselves with a full demonstration, as he tumbled from the creatures back with a gruff cry and a grunt that sent Cassandra and many others into a fresh fit of laughter.
"It's all right! Nobody Panic," Gimli grunted as he tried to roll off his back. Unfortunately his weapons and armor was making that difficult, and he now had the appearance of a turtle stuck on its shell. "That was deliberate. It was deliberate," he continued to say as Éowyn raced to his side, still laughing gaily while she helped him to his feet.
"You know…" Batgirl grinned evilly. "I will never… let you live that down."
She turned to Éowyn, expecting her friend to laugh along but instead the blonde woman's attention was faced back down the convoy. There was a far familiar look in the other woman's eyes. One that Cassandra had seen many a time from people like Spoiler and Oracle. Cassandra turned to look over her shoulder, to find the subject of Éowyn's interest, and froze when she realize that it was Aragorn. Looking back at Éowyn she confirmed that, no, her eyes were not malfunctioning.
‘Oh no. That’s probably not good,’ Cassandra thought in wide-eyed shock.
Despite her growing friendship with Éowyn, Cassandra had been friends with Arwen first and had promised to watch over Aragorn for the Elf Princess of Rivendell. And with that in consideration, she did not like what this new bit of information was could mean.
Batgirl had walked around the make shift campgrounds by herself for a while, not exactly avoiding the company of others, but neither looking for it.
She kept wondering about Éowyn's feelings towards Aragorn. Despite the part of her that kept saying it was none of her business, the currently Batgirl greatly wished to talk with the Ranger in private about Éowyn's growing infatuation. She didn't want to see anyone Éowyn, Arwen or Aragorn hurt because of this, and much of the outcome would depend a great deal on Aragorn's part.
Though in the end Cassandra decided that it might be best that go straight to the source, and speak with Éowyn first. After all, she could be mistaken (as impossible as the was, due to her ability to read body language) and Éowyn's had no feelings whatsoever towards Aragorn.
‘Wishful thinking.’
Cassandra began making her way back to where the Fellowship had set up their own camp, to see Éowyn and Aragorn already speaking to one another. Éowyn had a look of disbelief, while Aragorn looks somewhat… nauseous?
"You cannot be eighty!" Éowyn gasped as Cassandra drew closer. The corners of Aragorn's mouth twitched in a sheepishly smile.
"Eighty-seven."
The Shield-Maiden stood up, her mouth dropped in surprise. "You are one of the Dúnedain," she realized. "A descendent of Númernor, blessed with long life. It was said that your race passed into legend."
"There are a few of us left," the Ranger admitted. "The Northern Kingdom was destroyed long ago."
"So… can we call you 'Grandpa King-Guy', now?" Cassandra asked, now drawing attention to her presence. Éowyn jumped slightly and her cheeks went scarlet, while Aragorn simply bow his head in greeting.
"I'd prefer you that you would not," he said, “though I doubt that I could stop you.”
Cassandra knew that this might be the perfect opportunity to talk to Éowyn about Aragorn, but she felt herself falter. Relationships definitely weren't Cassandra's strong suit. Fact was she never really had anything really close to a real relationship with anyone. Her 'date' with Superboy had ended with them simply being friends and her relationship with Tim… that was far too short lived to even be considering much of one. How was she supposed to discuss the futility of Éowyn's possible feelings for Aragorn, when she herself didn't have much practice in romance herself?
Éowyn tilted her head to one side quizzically when she noticed the thoughtful expression on Batgirl’s face. Still, she chose not to say anything and instead she held up the cauldron that she was carrying. " Cassandra, would you like a bit of the stew I have made?"
Batgirl spared a sideway glance at Aragorn, whose eyes went wide and he shook his head urgently at her. Looking back at Éowyn, Cass wore a forced smile. "Umm… no thanks. Already ate."
Éowyn looked slightly disappointed, but nodded her head. "Is there something on your mind? You seem a bit distracted."
Batgirl's eyebrow disappeared behind her long black hair as she shook her head fervently. "No… just saying 'Hi' is all. And… um… ask… if you want to help me with… my sword work?"
Éowyn's eyes lit up at the mention of 'swords' and her face broke into a wide smile. "Of course! Please excuse us Lord Aragorn."
Aragorn eyed Cassandra for a long moment, and his eyes dropped to the wooden bowl of stew that Éowyn had given him. He unconsciously brought his free hand to finger the silver pendant that he wore about his neck.
He had a suspicious feeling that he knew the real reason that Batgirl had come by. He looked back at her as she and Éowyn turned to leave and smiled slightly at her turned back in gratitude.
Legolas had since forgiven Cassandra for her disappearing acts and the two were back on friendly ground, though Legolas finally understood what Robin had meant when he said: 'You won't meet another person like her.' The girl was at times insufferable, what with her dark, and distant attitude, one-track mind and gun-ho way of life. And yet at the same time she had a zest for life and childlike approach to things, that one couldn't help but take the girl into their hearts.
The elf prince was brought out of his musings as he heard the frightened neighing of a horse near by. He turned to see two riders from the company had moved closer towards him and Cassandra. One of them Legolas recognized as Háma, the king's door-warden. The other man had been seen at the King's side on numerous occasions; Gamling was his name.
"Something wrong?" Cassandra asked.
“I do not know,” Háma said, petting his horse’s mane in a futile attempt at calming it. “They are skittish, but I do not see a reason why.”
Legolas’ eyes narrowed. “The beast feel something that frightens-” his voice trailed off as a flicker of a shadow appeared and, just as quickly, disappeared on the rock landing a little way ahead and above them.
"You… see that?"
The lady's voice was uncertain and more than a little apprehensive. Legolas himself was surprised she'd seen anything at all, he, but remembered that her binoculars and her training had given her skills most humans could never imagine owning.
"Yes. Yes I did."
Moving quickly he scaled the rise and with Batgirl right beside him, the two of them scanned the layout of the land. Gamling and Háma had paused in the shade of the rock-face as their horses reared back again slightly from a danger that only an animal could sense. Legolas watched as Gamling's horse very nearly unseated him and it was in that moment that many things happened at once.
Without warning a giant Orc ridden warg leapt from another near by rise, onto Háma horse striking down both the rider and the animal in one blow. The other Rohan soldier brought his own horse about and drew his blade, though his eyes remained fixed on Háma who lay on the ground. Before anyone could react the giant wolf-like monster leapt forth and with its massive jaws grabbed a hold of Háma before tossing him aside like a giant chew toy. He landed with a grunt and groan but he was still alive.
"WARN THE OTHERS!" Legolas ordered Batgirl who had already broken into sprint back towards convoy of Rohan citizens.
Legolas meanwhile had cocked and fired an arrow from his bow with super-human speed. The feathered missile flew true and struck its mark directly in the warg's throat, causing the creature to stumble back into the ground, unseating its owner in the process.
Batgirl very nearly crashed into Aragorn as they both crested the incline from different directions at the same time. He looked at her urgently just as they both heard the cries of an Orc.
"What has happened?"
Batgirl swallowed and spoke over the pounding of blood in her ears. "Wargs attacking soldiers ahead! More coming! Got to warn the others!"
Aragorn didn't even nod as he turned and took off the way he came; Cassandra followed and arrived in time to catch the King's inquiry, and Aragorn's answer.
"Wargs! We're under attack! Get them out of here!"
The effect of this proclamation on the crowd was instantaneous; children ran for their mothers as women screamed, horses fretted and the men exchanged nervous glances while grabbing for weapons and surrounding their families. The king's voice over-rode it all.
"All riders to the head of the column!"
Cassandra raced after Aragorn to where Éowyn was holding their horses and both mounted up in record time. Nearby several soldiers tired to help Gimli mount the horse that he and Legolas had been sharing. As they prepared to go out and face the enemy, Théoden raced towards Éowyn who was mounting her own horse.
"You must lead the people to Helm's Deep, and make haste," he directed to his niece.
"I can fight!" Éowyn protested.
"NO!"
Batgirl and Aragorn both spun in their mounts to see the King's eyes ablaze for a moment. His face then softened and then spoke again in more hushed tones. "You must do this, for me."
Cassandra turned and watched him go, catching the look in Aragorn's eyes also as he left; a look that made the feminist in her sit up and pay attention. He wasn't serious expecting HER to stay behind and let all the boys have the fun, did he?
Éowyn's voice brought her out of her reverie as the shield-maiden yelled her orders. "Head for the lower ground! And stay together!"
Cassandra and Éowyn met eyes, and the appearance of regret and disappointment was obvious on the blonde's delicate features.
"You aren't coming?" Batgirl asked
"I have made a promise to my uncle to lead our people to Helm's Deep. I must do what my King asks of me." She then gave Cassandra a knowing smile. "Remember: relax your wrist and let the momentum of the swing do the work. And be careful my friend." Cassandra gave a wink and raced off after the others.
"What do you think you are doing!" demanded a furious voice. Cassandra craned her neck to the side as her horse caught up with the King's. Judging by the bulging vein in his forehead, the King of Rohan didn't look one bit pleased at seeing her.
"Going to fight!" Cassandra shot back as if it were perfectly obvious. "Draw wargs from... innocents people. Duh."
"You should not be here! A woman's place is not in battle!" Théoden snapped, looking at this girl incredulously. "You will be prey for Saruman's foul beasts!"
Cassandra grinned wickedly at the king and reaching back pulled her cowl over her face. "I'm Batgirl. I don't do prey."
In one fast move she drew her sword that Éowyn had given her from its scabbard and spurred Nadia forward, before Théoden could argue further.
"Ye'd have better luck of holding back a river with wee tea cup, than stoppin' that lass from doing her duty," Gimli grunted in a somewhat mocking tone, while he awkwardly rode his own horse alongside Théoden's.
The group of Rohan Soldiers, one ranger, one dwarf and one woman cleared the rocky pass, in time to see Legolas knocking back one arrow after another and releasing them killing anything that got in their way. Not far away Gamling was protecting the injured Háma from further attack.
Catching sight of Gimli on their horse, the Elf Prince raced forward and was gripping the stead's main, flipped himself over and under the beast, before landing seated behind Gimli.
"Showoff." Batgirl shouted to him.
Things exploded like a sonic boom as Théoden's forces met Saruman's Warg Riders. In the first 5 seconds of the battle, a large number of wargs, horses and their riders had been injured or slaughtered.
Batgirl reached into her utility belt and took out one of the few bat-gadgets she still hand, and flung them at a charging Warg. They were a couple of the new tangler pellets that upon impact exploded into a large gummy substance that completely entangled the monster's legs, and it fell crashing head first into the ground. At the same time its rider was dethroned from his mount and ended up getting trampled on by another soldier's horse.
"What was that you threw?" asked the soldier as he looked down at the entangled beast.
"Girl secret."
The fighting continued on for a bit and at one point Cassandra had heard Gimli shouting, "Bring your pretty face to my axe" followed by "That one still counts as mine!" But with all the chaos going about Batgirl had yet to see hide or hair of Gimli, Aragorn or Legolas.
"My lady!" shouted someone amongst the crowds of people. "Behind you!"
Cassandra turned to late, and was close lined off her horse by a large and fat Orc with bulging green eyes and a nose ring to beat all nose rings. In a split second Cassandra was back on her feet and glaring as the Orc and his pet warg.
They stood facing each other for several moments, and the second that Cassandra adjusted her stance the beast came charging. She broke into a sprint and the instant before Warg had reached her, Batgirl leapt up, landed on the warg's skull, front flipped into the air and side kicked its Orc master clear out of his seat. At the instant that Cassandra landed, she flung the sword that Éowyn had given her and it flew like a torpedo, embedding itself into the Warg's chest.
Cassandra spun back to face the Orc who she had knocked off his ride. Needless to say, he looked at her in complete shock, before his face broke into a hideous scowl and letting out a bellowing war cry raced to meet her in battle.
Batgirl grinned under her mask and flipping backwards grabbed her sword out of the fallen Warg. She then front flipped and bringing her sword up, blocked the Orc’s mace and jamming her index finger into the monster's neck crushed his windpipe.
Her mind temporarily flashed back to when she was 7 years old again. She had just used lethal force. Something Batman didn't condone. But like Robin had said in Moria: different place, different rules. These creatures were nothing more than demons bent on death and destruction. And they definitely didn't fit under her oath to never take a human life.
The battle soon began to die down and the few Orcs and Wargs that remained living, began to make hasty retreats. Cassandra looked over the battlefield and felt her stomach clench. They had received as much as they had given. Rohan soldiers lay strewed over the field of battle, and their blood stained the golden land.
"Cassandra!" Batgirl turned to see Legolas and Gimli racing towards, looking both very relieved though worn.
"You are unharmed?" Legolas asked.
"Sure," she nodded. "You two okay?"
Gimli grunted unconvincingly. "I just had two 300 pound wargs laying on top of me, along with one Orc. I've been better lassie."
"Where is Aragorn?" Legolas asked nervously. Both Gimli and Cassandra swapped worried looks. Neither had seen Aragorn since they had entered the battle. All three began to call out the ranger’s name as they raced crossed the battlefield.
A crude laugh just ahead of them snapped drew their attention to an Orc that had its throat almost split open. Gimli drew his axe, but Batgirl beat him to the punch, and grabbed the Orc rather painfully by the throat. The creature let out a gasp of pain.
"Where is Aragorn?" she growled in a low and dangerous voice.
"He's… dead" the Orc replied with no remorse, but rather sick joy. "Took a little tumble over the cliff.” He jutted his head to a cliff that hung over the nearby river.
Cassandra's eyes went wide and her grip on the Orc released instantly. "No…"
Legolas stepped forward, glaring daggers at the pathetic creature before them and grabbed it roughly by the shoulders. "You lie," he growled with hatred for the Orc and fear for Aragorn coloring his tones.
But no further reply came from the Orc, as it was that moment that it died. Legolas ran his contemptuous gaze over the creature, only stopping when he caught sight of something in its hand. Slowly and carefully, he disentangled the Evenstar pendant from the Orc's clawed grip and held it up for the others to see.
Gimli barely noticed the pendant, since his attention was primarily fixed on Batgirl. She wasn't talking. She wasn't swearing. She wasn't crying. She was just standing there.
"Cassie…?” he began
Batgirl barely reacted to her name being called. "It isn't true… Not again…" she whispered.
Legolas turned and ran to the edge of the cliff where Théoden was already standing, and peered over the precipice. Below them, they could see the corpse of a Warg smashed against hard rock by a river but there was no trace of Aragorn.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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